BERLIN — Two weeks after voters rejected a proposed $21 million police station, the town council said on Tuesday that it's up to the police commission to revise its request for a much-needed new home for the 42-officer department.

The council was meeting for the first time since the 5,075-3,149 defeat of a ballot question Nov. 4 seeking approval of the new station. Council members said it is clear that people opposed the proposal largely because of its cost.

"The people have spoken," said Mayor Rachel Rochette, leader of the Democratic council majority. "The problem of getting adequate space for our police department will not go away. The issue should go back to the police commission for review. They are responsible for a statement of need for a new station."

Once the police commission has a revised request, the Public Building Commission can review it and eventually a new proposal will come to the council, she said.

David Evans, leader of the Republican minority on the council, said the 5-to-3 ratio of opposition to the $21 million plan makes him think the town should appoint a bipartisan advisory board to make suggestions to the police commission.

Rochette and other Democrats said it would be awkward and premature to create such a group to insert itself into the police commission's duties. The commission is an elected, bipartisan group, with meetings open to the public, they said, so an advisory committee isn't necessary.

Council members took no vote on the issue, leaving it up to the police commission to revisit the issue, revise its rejected proposal and try again to get a station built to replace the overcrowded, 40-year-old facility on the bottom floor of town hall.